Katherine Follette
Physics and Astronomy, Amherst College
Research Focus
About Katherine
I am an observational astronomer working to understand the physics of planet formation and growth. I use ground and space-based high-contrast imaging techniques to find and characterize young (proto)planets and brown dwarfs. This involves both studying them directly, and observing them indirectly through their interactions with the disks of material surrounding their young host stars (circumstellar disks). My primarily undergraduate research group works to develop tools and techniques to accurately identify and interpret the signals of substellar objects embedded in these disks. We use these measurements to understand where and when planets form in young systems, and to test the predictions of various planet formation paradigms.
I also run an educational research study called the Quantitative Reasoning for College Science (QuaRCS) study, which is focused on understanding how to best help students learn real world numerical skills through introductory science courses for non-majors.
Honors
2022 - Cottrell Scholar
2016 - Sagan Fellow
2009 - NSF GRFP Fellow
2004 - J William Fulbright Fellow
Education
Postdoc
Kavli Institute, Stanford University, 01/2015 - 12/2016
Ph.D.
Astronomy, University of Arizona, 12/2014
Master's
Astronomy, University of Arizona, 06/2010
Bachelor's
Physics, Japanese Studies, Middlebury College, 05/2004
